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Chambersburg Area School Board mum on Shreffler

By BRIAN HALLStaff writer

Updated:
05/09/2012 11:15:27 PM EDT

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Demonstration: Supporters of former Chambersburg boys basketball coach Shawn Shreffler gather outside the Chambersburg Area School District administration building before Wednesday night s school board meeting.

CHAMBERSBURG - The Chambersburg Area school board will not reopen discussions on ousted boys basketball coach Shawn Shreffler, according to a statement issued at Wednesday night's school board meeting.

In front of a board meeting with at least 30 attendees wearing #TeamShreff T-shirts, school board Vice President Stanley Helman read a statement on behalf of the school district following a 25-minute executive session.

"Although there has been loud outcry for further public discussion by the board on this issue, such a debate is not possible," said Helman while reading the statement. "First, it must be understood that Robert's Rules of Order with regard to motions for reconsideration do not permit reconsideration of the board vote at this time."

Board member Joan Smith did not agree with the stance of the school board or district in the statement.

Smith read a passage from her copy of Robert's Rules of Order and said it was her opinion that the rules were not followed when Shreffler was ousted last month. Shreffler was told he wouldn't be returning as coach following a controversial 5-4 vote at the meeting. Board President Norman Blowers changed his vote in the midst of board secretary Crystal Ellgass reading the voting results. The board followed a process through district solicitor Jan Sulcove to change Blowers' vote.

When discussing the statement, Smith said "I can't agree with this page."

Blowers was not present at the meeting, but did participate through a conference call.

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Helman said at the beginning of the meeting that Blowers was out of the area on Wednesday night.

According to Helman, the district will not speak publicly about the issue again.

"A grievance has been filed on Mr. Shreffler's behalf, seeking his reinstatement to the coaching position," Helman read. "As a result of the filing of this legal action against the district, the board and administration have been instructed by legal counsel not to comment publicly or privately on this mater and the board and administration will abide by that advice."

However, Smith objected to the statement and said the vote wasn't handled properly in April.

In the weeks after his ouster, Shreffler has thrown out the first pitch for a CASHS varsity softball game and for a CASHS varsity baseball game. Supporters have sold T-shirts and conducted a rally outside of Fuddruckers restaurant. An online petition sprouted up and a Facebook page titled "We Support Coach Shreffler" grew to 5,270 members by Wednesday night.

More than 20 current players, former players and community members spoke on the coach's behalf at the last meeting.

"The public has repeatedly exercised its right to express deep-seated beliefs about the running of the district's schools and programs, whether the issue is the elimination of all-day kindergarten, a proposed increase in school taxes, the closing of an elementary school, the relocation of a bus stop, the ratification of a controversial collective bargaining agreement or the separation of a school employee, coach or otherwise," Helman said.

"However, just as the public has the right to be heard and has been heard by the board, the members of the board also have the right and the legal duty under the Pennsylvania Public School Code to act in accordance with their own beliefs as to what is best for the students."

Prior to the meeting, supporters of Shreffler convened outside of the administration building. Supporters wore #TeamShreff shirts emblazoned with a message on the back. By the second executive session of the night, most of Shreffler's supporters had filed out of the board room.

The school board was in executive session concerning school budget issues at presstime.

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